Geneva, David R. Boyd, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, announced the publication of a new User Guide aimed at helping governments, businesses, and civil society turn UN resolutions on the right to a clean environment into concrete actions. The guide was released on Earth Day, an event that has been celebrated globally for over 50 years, emphasizing the need to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Boyd stated that while UN resolutions recognizing the right to a healthy environment have provided a much-needed boost of hope, the next step is to translate these resolutions into policies and projects that deliver real impact. The new User Guide offers a roadmap for achieving this, providing advice to civil society, social movements, and communities on how to implement the right to a clean and sustainable environment.

Boyd explained that the guide aims to help prevent unsustainable and unjust laws, policies, and projects, while also promoting systemic changes for a just and sustainable future. It is designed to support efforts to ensure all people have clean air, safe water, healthy food, and a safe climate for themselves and future generations.

The User Guide encourages collaborative efforts to transform economic systems based on the exploitation of people and nature. Boyd acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasized that by working together, it is possible to achieve a better world. He underscored the importance of collective action, noting, “We are strongest when we use our voices together in global harmony.”

The new guide provides practical steps for advancing the right to a healthy environment, aligning with Earth Day’s message of environmental stewardship. It represents a small but significant step in the ongoing journey toward a more just and sustainable future.